presum'd vnto a King Wâ—th Aesops Flye to seeke an Eagles wing But know I 'me he that entred once the list Gainst all the world to play the Satyrist T was I that made my measures rough and rude Daunce arm'd with whips amid'st the multitude And vnappalled with my charmed Scrowles Teaz'â— angry Monsters in their lurking holes I 'ue plaid with Wasps and Hornets without feares Till they grew mad and swarmd about my eares Iu'e done it and me thinkes 't is such braue sport I may be stung but nâ—re be sorry for 't For all my griefe is that I was so sparing And had no more in 't worth the name of daring He that will taxe these Times must be more bitter Tart lines of Vinegar and Gall are fitter My fingers and my spirits are benum'd My Inke runs forth too smooth t is too much gum'd I d'e haue my Pen so paint it where it traces Each accent should draw bloud into their faces And make them when their villanies â—re blazâ—d Shudder and startle as men halfe amazâ—d For feare my verse should make so loud a din Heauen hearing might raine vengeance on their sin Oh noâ— for sâ—ch a straineâ— would Art could teach it Though life my spirits I consum'd to reach it I d'e learne my Muse so braue a course to flye Men should admire the power of Poesie And those that dar'd her greatnesse to resist Quake euen at naming of a Satyrist But when hiâ— scoâ—rging numbers flow'd with wonder Should cry God blesse vs as they did at thunder Alas my lines came from me too too dully They did not fill a Satyres mouth vp fully Hot bloud and youth enrag'd with passionâ— store Taught me to reach a straine nere touch'd before But it was coldly done I throughly chid not And somewhat there is yet to doe I did not More soundly could my scourge haue yerked many Which I omit not cause I feared any For want of action discontentments rage Base dis-respect of Vertue in this age With other things vnto my selfe a wrong Made me so fearelesse in my carelesse long That had not reason within compasse wonne me I had told Truth enough to haue vndoâ—e me Nay haue already if that her Diuine And vnâ—eene power can doe no more then mine For though fore-seeing warinesse was good I fram'd my stile vnto a milder mood And clogging her thigh-towring wingâ— with mire Made her halfe earth that was before all fire Then being as you saw disguis'd in shew Clad like a Satyre brought her forth to view Hoping her out-side being mis-esteem'd She might haue passed but for what she seem'd Yet some whose Comments iumpe not with my minde In that low phrase a higher reach woulâ— finde And out of their deepe iudgement seeme to know What 't is vncertaine if I meant or no Ayming thereby out of some priuate hate To worke my shame or ouerthrow my state For amongst many wrongs my foe doth doe me And diuers imputations laid vnto me Deceiued in his ayme he doth mis-conster That which I haue enstil'd a Man-like Monster To meane some priuate person in the state Whose worth I thinke to wrong out of my hate Vpbraiding me I from my word doe start Either for want of a good Ground or Heart Cause from his expectation I doe vary In the denying of his Commentary Whereas 't is knowne I meant Abuse the while Not thinking any one could be so vile To merit all those Epithites of shame How euer many doe deserue much blame But say I grant that I had an intent To haue it so as he interprets meant And let my gracious Liege suppose there were One whom the State may haue some cause to feare Or thinke there were a man and great in Court That had more faults then I could well report Suppose I knew him and had gone about By some particular markes to paint him out That he best knowing his owne faults might see He was the Man I would should noted be Imagine now such doings in this Age And that this man so pointed at should rage Call me in question and by his much threatning By long imprisonment and ill intreating Vrge a Confession wer 't not a mad part For me to tell him what lay in my heart Doe not I know a great mans Power and Might Iâ— spight of Innocence can smother Right Colour his Villanies to get esteeme And make the Honest man the Villaine seeme And that the truth I told should in conclusion For want of Power and Friends be my confusion I know it and the world doth know 't is true Yetâ—I protest if such a man I knew That might my Countrey preiudice or Thee Were he the greatest or the proudest Hoe That breathes this day if so it might be found That any good to either might redound So farre I 'le be though Fate against me run From starting off from that I haue begun I vn-appalled dare in such a case Rip vp his foulest Crimes before his face Though for my Labour I were sure to drop Into the mouth of Ruine without hope But such strange farre-fetcht meanings they haue sought As I was neuer priuy to in thought And that vnto particulars would tye Which I intended vniuersally Whereat some with displeasure ouer-gone Those I scarce dream'd of saw or thought vpon Maugre those caueats on my Satyres brow Their honest and iust passage disallow And on their heads so many censures rake That spight of me themselues they 'le guilty make Nor is 't enough to swage their discontent To say I am or to be Innocent For as when once the Lyon made decree No horned beast should nigh his presence be That on whose fore-head onely did appeare A bunch of flesh or but some tuft of haire Was euen as farre in danger as the rest If he but said it was a horned beast So there be now who thinke in that their power Is of much force or greater farre then our It is enough to proue a guilt in me Because mistaking they so think 't to be Yet'tis my comfort they are not so high But they must stoope to thee and equity And this I know though prick't they storme agen The world doth deeme them ne're the better men To stirre in filth makes not the stench the lesse Nor doth Truth feare the frowne of Mightinesse Because those numbers she doth deigne to grace Men may suppresse a while but ne're to deface I wonder and 't is wondred at by many My harmelesse lines should brâ—ed distaste in any So much that whereas most good men approue My labour to be woâ—thy thankes and loue I as a â—illaine and my Countries foe Should be imprison'd and so strictly to That not alone my liberty is bar'd But the resort of friends which is more hard And whil'st each wanton or loose Rimers pen With oily words sleekes o're the sinnes of men Vâ—iling his wits to euery Puppets becke Which e're I 'le doe I 'le ioy to breake my
A SATYRE DEDICATED TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE BY GEORGE VVITHER Gentleman Rebus in aduersis Crescit LONDON Printed for GEORGE NORTON and are to be solde at the signe of the red-Bull neere Temple-barre 1614. THE SATYRE TO THE MEERE COVRTIERS SIrs I doe know your mindes you looke for fees For more respect then needes for caps and knees But be content I haue not for you now Nor will I haue at all to doe with you For though I seeme opprest and you supposâ— I must be faine to crouch to Vertues foes Yet know your fauours I doe now slight more In this distressâ— then er'e I did beforâ— Here to my Liege a message I must tell If you will let me passe yoâ— shall doe well If you deâ—iâ— admittance why then know I meane to haue it where you will or no. Your formall wisedomes which hath neuer beene In ought yet saue in venting fashions seene And deemes that man waâ— borne to no intent But to be train'd in Apish complement Doth now perhaps suppose me vndiscreet And such vn-vsed messages vnmeet But what of that Shall I goe sute my matter Vnto your wits that haue but wit to flatter Shall I of your opinions so much prize To loose my will to haue you thinke me wise Who neuer yet to any liking had Vnlesse he were a Knaue a Foole or mad You Mushromes know so much I weigh your powers I neither value you nor what is yours Nay though my crosses had me quite out-worne Spirit enough I d'e finde your spight to scorne Of which resolu'd to further my aduenter Vnto my KING without your leaues I enter TO THE HONEST COVRTIERS BVt You whose onely worth doth colour giue To them that they doe worthy seeme to liue Kinde Gentlemen your ayde I craue to bring A SATYRE to the presence of his King A show of rudenesse doth my forehead Arme Yet you may trust me I will doe no harme He that hath sent me is a subiect true And one whose loue I know is much to you But now he lies bound to a narrow scope Almost beyond the Cape of all good hope Long hath he sought to free himselfe but failes And therefore seeing nothing else preuailes Me to acquaint my Soueraigne here he sends As one despayring of all other friends I doe presume that you will fauour shew me Now that a Messenger from him you know me For many thousands that his face nere knew Blame his Accusers and his Fortune rue And by the helpe which your good word may dâ—â— He hopes for pitty from his Soueraigne to Then in his presence with your fauours grace me And there 's no Vice so great shall dare out-face me TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY A Satyre Quid tu sipeâ—eo VVHat once the POET said I may avow T is a hard thing not to write Satyres now Since what we speake abuse raignes so in all Spight of our hearts will be Satyricall Let it not therefore now be deemâ—d strange My vnsmooth'd lines their rudenesse do not change Nor be distastfull to my graciouâ— King Though in the Cage my olde harsh notes I sing And rudely make a Satyre here vnfold What others would in neater tearmes haue told And why my friends and meanes in Court are scant Knowledge of curious Phrase and forme I want I cannot bear 't to runne my selfe in debt To hire the Groome to bid the Page intreat Some fauour'd follower to vouchsafe his word To get me a colde comfort from his Lord I cannot sooth though it my life might saue Each fauourite nor crouch to euery Knaue I cannot brooke delayes as some men do With scoffes and scornes and tak 't in kindnesse to For er'e I 'de binde my selfe for some slight grace To one that hath no more worth then his place Orbâ— â—base meane free my selfe from trouble I rather would eâ—â—ure my penance double Cause to be forc'd to what my minde disdaines Is worse to me then tortures rackes and chaines And therefore vnto thee I onely flye To whom there needes no meane but Honesty To thee that lou'st not Parasite nor Minioâ— Should e're I speake possesse thee with opinion To thee that do'st what thou wilt vndertake For loue of Iustice not the persons sake To thee that kno'wst how vaine all faire shewes be That flow not from the hearts sincerity And canst though shadowed in the simplest vaile Discerne both Loue and Truth and where they faile To thee doe I appeale in whom heau'n knowes I next to God my confidence repose For can it be thy grace should euer shine And not enlighten such a cause as mine Can my hopes fixt in thee great KING be dead Or thou those Satyres hate thy Forrests bred Where shall my second hopes he founded then If euer I haue heart to hope agen Can I suppose a fauour may be got In any place when thy Coâ—rt yeelâ—â— it not Or that I may obtaine it in the land When I shall be deni'd it at thy hand Aâ—d if I might should I so fond on 't be To tak 't of otherâ— when I miss't of thee Or if I did can I haue comfort by it When I shall tâ—inke my Soâ—â—raigâ—e did denie it No were I sure I to thy hate were borne The loue of halfe the world beside I 'de scorne But why should I thy fauour here distrust That haue a cause so knowne and knowne so iust Which not alone my inward comfort doubles But all suppos'd me wrong'd that heare my troubles Nay though my fault were Reall I beleeue Thou art so Royall that thou wouldst forgiue For well I know thy sacred Mâ—iestie Hath euer beene admir'd for Clemencie And at thy gentleneâ— the world hath wondred For making Sunshine where thou mightst haue thundred Yea thou in mercy life to them didst giue That could not be content to see thee liue And can I thinke that thou wilt make me then The most vnhappy of all other men Or leâ— thy loyall subiect against reason Be punisht more for Loue then some for Treason No thou didst neuer yet thy glory staine With an iniustice to the meanest Swaine 'T is not thy will I 'me wrong'd nor dost thou know If I haue suffred iniuries or no. For if I haue not heard false Rumours flye Th'aâ—t grac'd me with the stile of Honesty And if it were so as the world thinkes 't was I cannot see how it should come to passe That thou from whose free tongue proceedeth nought Which is not correspondent with thy thought Those thoughts to being fram'd in Reasons mould Should speake that once which should not euer hold But passing it as an vncertaintie I humbly begge thee by that Maiestie Whose sacred Glory strikes a louing-feare Into the hearts of all to whom 't is deare To deigne me so much fauour without merit As reade this plaint of a distempred spirit And thinke vnlesse I saw some hideous storme Too great to be induâ—'d by such a worme I had not thus
Soule 's as gâ—od my Heart as great as theirâ— My loue vnto my Country anâ— to thee As much as his that more would seeme to be And would this Age allow but meanes to show it Those that misdoubtâ— â—hould â—re long time know it Pitty my youth then and let me not lye Wasting my time in fruitlesse misery Though I am meane I may be borne vnto That seruice which another cannot doe In vaine the little Mouse the Lyon spar'd not She did him pleasure when a greater dar'd not If ought that I haue done doe thee displease Thy misconceiued wrath I will appease Or sacrifice my heart but why should I Suffer for God knowes whom I know not why If that my words through somes mistâ—ke offends Let them conceiue them right and make amends Or were I guilty of offence indeede One fault they say doth but one pardon neede Yet one I had and now I want one more For once I stood accus'd for this before As I â—emember I so long agon Sâ—ng Thame and Rhyâ—es Epithalamion When SHE that from thy Royall selfe deriueâ— Those gracious vertues that best Title giues She that makes Rhyne proud of her excellence And me oft minde her here with reuerence Daign'd in her great-good nature to encline Her gentle eare to such a cause aâ— mine And which is more vouchsaf't her word to cleare Me from all dangers if there any were So that I doe not now intreat or sue For any great boone or request that 's new But onely this though absent from the Land Her former fauour still in force might stand And that her word who present was so deere Might be as powerfull as when she was heere Which if I finde and with thy fauour may Haue leaue to shake my loathed bands away As I doe hope I shall and be set free From all the troubles this hath brought on me I 'le make her Name giue life vnto a Song Whose neuer-dying note shall last as long As there is either Riuer Groue or Spring Or Downe for Sheepe or Shepheards Lad to sing Yea I will teach my Muse to touch a straine That was nere reach't to yet by any Swaine For though that many deeme my yeares vnriâ—e Yet I â—aue learn'd to tune an Oaten pipe Whereon I 'le try what musicke I can make me Vntill Bellona â—with her Trumpe awake me And since the world will not haue Vice thus shownâ— By blazing Vertue I will make it knowne Thâ—n if the Court will not my lines approue I 'le goe vnto some Mountaine or thicke Groue There to my fellow Shepheards will I sing Tuniâ—g my Reed vnto some dancing Spring In such a note that none should dare to trouble it Till thâ— Hilâ—es ansâ—ere and thâ— Woods redouble it And peraduenture I may then goe nere To speake of something thou l't be pleasd'd to heare And that which those who now my tunes abhorre Shall reade and like and daigne to loue me for But the meane while oh passe not thiâ— suite by Let thy free hand signe me my liberty And if my loue may moue thee more to do Good King consider this my trouble to Others haue found thy fauour in distreâ—se Whose loue to thee and thine I thinke was lesse And I might fitter for thy serâ—ice liue On what would not be much for thee to giue And yet I aske it not for that I feare The outward meanes of life should faâ—â—e me here For though I want to compaâ—se those good â—nâ—s I ayme at for my Countrey and my Friends In this poore state I can as well content me As if that I had Wealth and Honours lent me Nor for my owne sake doe I seeke to shunne This thraldome wherein now I seeme vndone For though I prize my Freedome more then Gold And vse the meanes to free my selfe from hold Yet with a minde I hope vnchangâ—d and free Here can I liue and play with misery Yea in despight of want and slauery Laugh at the world in all her brauery Here haue I learn'd to make my greatest Wrongâ— Matter of Mirth and subiects but for Songs Here can I smile to see my selfe neglected And how the meane mans sute is disrespected Whil'st those that are more rich and better friended Can haue twice greater faults thrice sooner ended All this yea more I see and suffer to Yet liue content midst discontents I do Which whil'st I can it is all one to me Whether in Prison or abroad it be For should I still lye here distrest and poore It shall not make me breath a sigh the morâ— Since to my selfe it is indifferent Where the small remnant of my dayes be spent But for Thy sake my Countries and my Friends For whom more then my selfe God this life lends I would not could I helpe it be a scorne But lâ—ue if I might free as I was borne Or rather for good Bell-arete's sake Faâ—â—e Verâ—â—â— of â—hom most account I make If I can chuse I will not be debaâ—'d In this last action least She be disgrac'd For 't was the loue of her that brought me to What Spleene nor Enuie could not make me do And if her seruants be no more regarded If enemies of Vice be thus rewarded And I should also Vertues wrongs conceale As if none liu'd to whom she dar'd appeale Will they that doe not yet her worth approue Be euer drawne to entertaine her loue When they â—â—all see hiâ— plagu'd as an Offender Who for the loue he beares her doth commend her This may to others more offensiâ—e be Then preiudiciall any way to me For who will his endeuours euer bend To follow her whom there is â—one will friend Some I doe hope there be that nothing may From loue of Truth and Honesty dismay But who will euer seeing my hard Fortune The remedy of Times Abuse importune Who will againe when they haue smother'd me Dart to oppose the face of Villany Whereas he shall not onely vndertake A Combate with a second Lernean Snake Whose euer-growing heads when as he crops Not onely two Springs for each one he lops But also he shall see in midst of dangerâ— Those he thought friends turn foes or at leaâ—â— strangerâ— More I could speake but sure if this doe â—aile me I neuer shall doe ought that will aâ—aâ—â—e me Nor câ—re to speake againe vnlesse it be To him that knowes how Heart and Words agreâ— No nor to liue when none dares vndertake To speake one word for honest Vertues sake But let his will be done that best knowes what Will be my future good and what will not Hap well or ill my spotlesse meaning 's faire And for thee this shall euer be my prayer That thou may'st here enioy a long-blest Raigâ—e And dying be in Heauen Re-crown'd againe SO now if thou hast daign'd my Lines to heare There 's nothing can befall me that I feare For if thou hast compassion on my trouble The Ioy I shall receiue will be made double And if I fall it may some Glory be That none but IOVE himselfe did ruine me Your MAIESTIES most loyall Subiect and yet Prisoner in the Marshalsâ—y GEO. WYTHER